Just be sure to brush up on your pirate lingo before casting off.
Bilge Rat
The lowest form of animal life; similar to today’s politicians and lawyers.
Bilge-sucking
A guy with some real personal problems
Blimey!
“What the hell?”
Bloody
The very worst oath in pirate vernacular, as in...
“Yon bloody cannonball took off me leg!”
Cat O’ Nine Tails
A flogging device with nine separate thongs, each of which contains a small lead ball at the tip.
Rarely used in the US Navy today.
Davy Jones' Locker
The bottom of the sea, where the bones of seamen lie.
Hang 'im from the yardarm
"Truss ‘im up and let ‘im rot in the sun.”
Head
This is a modern term. Real pirate ships didn’t have toilets. That’s what they made gunnels for, hence the term, "Hang it over, Rover.”
Hornswaggle
To cheat, dissemble and lie. A prerequisite to becoming a full-fledged pirate.
Jolly Roger
Skull and crossbones flag. Black means “Surrender your ship.” Red means “No quarter”
Keelhaul
The practice of dragging miscreants naked across the thwarts and the barnacle embedded keel of a vessel. It really must have smarted!
Landlubber
An awkward, overweight, out of shape human being with nothing much going for him. In other words, anyone who is not a seaman.
Powder Monkey
The youngest and dumbest crew member whose responsibility it is to handle volatile gunpowder in battle.
Privateer
Another high-falutin name for a pirate. One who has social aspirations.
Run a shot across the bow
“Strike your colors or we’ll blow you to smithereens.”
Scallywag
A young pirate, analogous to a pollywog.
Scurvy
Contemptible and unclean. A word currently used most often to describe congressmen.
Shark bait
On one’s way to Davy Jones' Locker.
Shipshape
Neat and orderly. A condition never seen on a true pirate vessel
Shiver me timbers!
Comparable to "Holy Crap!"
Sprogs
Kids or pirates-in-training
Walk the plank
Yer last opportunity to try a one and a half dive in a tuck position.
